On 2/18/17, The El Cajon Police Department Special Enforcement Division conducted an enforcement detail in accordance with a grant from the Office of Traffic Safety. The detail encompassed the City of El Cajon, primarily focusing on areas of high pedestrian and bicycle travel. The focus of the detail was to bring safety awareness to pedestrians and bicyclists about the importance of following all appropriate traffic laws when bicycling or walking throughout the City.

The detail was operational from 0700 hours to 1500 hours. Throughout the day, officers made contact with fifty-two (52) subjects. Of these contacts, eight-teen (18) were issued pedestrian citations, five (5) were issued bicycle citations, nine (9) were issued vehicle citations. No vehicles were impounded during this detail.

Bicycle and pedestrian fatalities are rising in California as more people use these non-motorized means of transportation. Locally, El Cajon Police Department has investigated 28 fatal and 365 injury collisions involving pedestrians and bicyclists during the past three (3) years. In 2013, California witnessed 701 pedestrians and 141 bicyclists killed, accounting for more than 28 percent of all traffic fatalities.

All bicyclists are reminded to always wear a helmet-those under 18 years of age must wear helmets by law. Pedestrians should always cross the street in marked crosswalks or at corners.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.